The 2020 St. Jude Rock ‘N’ Roll Nashville announces New Music Festival presented by PNC Bank

February 26, 2020

More Than 60 Music Acts, From Country, Rock, Pop, Americana, Blues and More, to perform throughout the weekend, including performances from Michael Ray and Carly Pearce to Co-Headline Concert

NASHVILLE, Tenn., (February 26, 2020) – The Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series^® announced today the addition of the St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll^® Nashville Music Festival presented by PNC Bank. The new music festival event moves the post-race concert to the race finish line at Nissan Stadium; creating an all-day music festival where race participants, their family and friends and all spectators will be able to celebrate the day’s accomplishments with live music Saturday, April 25.

The St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Music Festival presented by PNC Bank will kick off with notable local talents such as Yankton, Chris Shrader and Less Kerr. Erin Kinsey, a gifted songwriter, artist and highly accomplished musician,will open the evening’s festivities. Country music superstars Michael Ray and Carley Pearce will co-headline the event and cap off the day’s events.

“The new St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Music Festival presented by PNC Bank is another step in making our events more inclusive of all runners, their friends and families, loyal volunteers and our supportive community,” said Drew Wolff, regional director for Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series. “We strive to make our race a memorable event for everyone as we celebrate over two decades of premier running partnered with high caliber music in Nashville. Saturday’s music festival concert will give everyone a full day of exciting performances as this town celebrates the best-in-class running event in Music City.”

“We are committed to helping advance the health and well-being of this community and our neighbors within it,” said Mike Johnson, PNC regional president for Nashville.  “The combination of fitness and music makesperfect sense to us, promoting a healthy lifestyle through physical activity and listening to some amazing local and national musicians.”

More music and running are woven throughout the fabric of St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville as the event will showcase some of the finest singer/songwriters throughout race weekend. Special performances by Music City’s most amazing talents such as Golden West, Lance Carpenter, Janelle Arthur, Rockland Road and Adam Warner will take place at the free and open-to-the-public Health & Fitness Expo Thursday, April 23, and Friday April 24, at the Music City Center. Jillian Cardarelli will showcase her amazing vocals at the one-mile race April 23, at Cumberland Park behind Ascend Amphitheater.

Saturday morning and afternoon Music Festival performances will be free and open to the public before switching over to a ticketed event. Music Festival gates will reopen at 5:30 p.m. Admission for the evening concert is complimentary to all runners with their bib and to all volunteers with their staff shirts. General Admission tickets are open to the general public and are $10 with 50% of the proceeds benefitting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Tickets can be purchased online at www.runrocknroll.com/nashville or at the gate.

An assortment of Nashville’s great food and beverage trucks will be on site. Free parking is available in select stadium lots. Low back lounge chairs that have a seat that are less than 9” off the ground (measured from the front of the seat) as welcomed; however, coolers are not allowed.

Artists and their performance schedule are listed below.

*Times are subject to change.

Janelle Arthur – Nashville singer/songwriter, Janelle Arthur won the hearts of millions as a top five finalist on American Idol (season 12). She has been a guest of the world-famous Grand Ole Opry 22 times (most recently Oct. 10, 2019 when she was asked by the Opry to perform during the 50th Anniversary of Dolly Parton’s Opry week celebration).  Her last single “Runnin’ From My Roots” was the Number 1 video on CMT’s Music 12 Pack for six of the nine weeks that it aired.

Jillian Cardarelli – is a singer/songwriter originally from a small town outside of Boston, Mass.  She’s quickly forging her own path in country music with her latest single, “Cool Girl,” that released in January to rave reviews. Her stunning vocals, captivating songwriting and girl-next-door quality have put her on top of Rolling Stone’s 10 New Country Artists You Need to Know. She is currently working on her debut album, which is certain to resonate with a wide variety of music lovers.

Lance Carpenter – The big-hearted Arkansas farm kid with a voice to match chose a career in service to others. Slowly and often unintentionally, the power of crafting lyrics and melody drew Lance in a new direction. After moving to Nashville, Carpenter wrote incessantly, landed a publishing deal and earned a few cuts on albums that never got released before “Love Me Like You Mean It” was recorded by then-unknown artist Kelsea Ballerini. The song became a No. 1 hit. His newest song “Last Night In Memphis” features Richie McDonald from Lonestar. A portion of proceeds benefits St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Les Kerr & The Bayou Band –Les Kerr & The Bayou Band offer an upbeat, original combination of music they call “Hillbilly Blues Caribbean Rock & Roll.” Bandleader Les Kerr is a songwriter, guitarist and vocalist and former Gulf Coast resident who is a well-established part of Nashville’s music scene.  The group has performed on Stage 1 of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville since the first year of the event.

Erin Kinsey – Erin Kinsey is a gifted songwriter, artist and highly accomplished musician, playing seven instruments.  For the last several years, Erin Kinsey and her band have been wowing audiences in Texas, Music City and beyond, headlining noteworthy venues such as Love and War in Texas, The Gaylord Texan, CMA Fest, The Dallas International Film Festival and the C2C Festival in London, England.  In 2017, Erin Kinsey opened for Hunter Hayes during the St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Concert at Ascend Amphitheater in Nashville.

Carly Pearce – Defying odds with her No. 1 debut “Every Little Thing,” Carly became the highest charting solo female debut since July 2015 and joined an elite group of only three women to accomplish this feat in the last decade. Her blockbuster ballad steered a chart-topping trifecta on SiriusXM’s The Highway that also includes “If My Name Was Whiskey” and “Hide The Wine.” She is currently headlining her own club dates after wrapping major tours with Blake Shelton, Rascal Flatts, Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean. She has taken home the CMT Music Awards Breakthrough Video of the Year and Radio Disney Music Award for The Freshest! – Radio Disney Country Best New Artist, plus picked up iHeartRadio Music Awards, ACM Awards and CMA Awards nominations. A loyal advocate of Country music’s legacy and future, Carly has celebrated 70+ invitations to perform at the Grand Ole Opry and has partnered with the Country Music Hall of Fame^®and Museum on a video series that connects the genre’s eras – Unbroken Circle: Exploring Country Music History with Carly Pearce. Alongside Luke Combs, Jonathan Singleton and Randy Montana, Carly penned her new duet with Lee Brice, “I Hope You’re Happy Now.” Carly’s anticipated self-titled sophomore album is due on Valentine’s Day 2020 via Big Machine Records and was recorded alongside longtime collaborator and late

Michael Ray – Country singer-songwriter Michael Ray was a hit right out of the box, scoring both with critics and on the charts. With Country Aircheck boasting there are “big things on the horizon for Michael Ray” and his live shows lauded by USA Today as simply “lip-smacking good,” the Florida native backed up that praise with two number ones from his 2015 self-titled debut album with “Kiss You in the Morning” and “Think a Little Less.” His sophomore album, Amos, which debuted in the Top 3 on the Billboard Country Charts upon release has already spawned the hit “Get to You” and third No. 1 “One That Got Away,” which All Access declared “an undeniable crowd pleaser.” His latest single “Her World Or Mine” is available now and be sure to see him perform it live on Brantley Gilbert’s Not Like Us Tour, now through mid-October. Learn more about Ray at www.MichaelRayMusic.com

Rockland Road – Rockland Road is a self-contained vocal-driven melodic band with a heritage as rich and authentic as its namesake. Six members, all sharing the last name Martin; representing four generations of musical heritage; all vocalists who play twenty-three instruments between them. Grammy-winning artist Paul Martin, lead singer/guitarist of country-pop supergroup Exile, met and married Jamie Allen, daughter of Duane Allen of Country Music Hall of Fame members The Oak Ridge Boys.

 Chris Shrader – Electrifying Independent Country Artist from Pulaski Tenn. Shrader’s songs and singing style reflect the music that surrounded him growing up. Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Alan Jackson, Travis Tritt, and Reba influence him. But his music is also flavored by the eclectic rock music he listened to as a teenager: Lynyrd Skynyrd, Marshall Tucker, Pearl Jam, and Tom Petty among others. Mix in a dash of contemporary country, and you have a soulful, rocking style of traditional country music that is Chris Shrader’s sound alone. Listen to his music on iHeart Radio, Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, FM and XM radio. New Music coming this spring.

Adam Warner – After serving his country in the United States Marines, Adam knew that Nashville, Tenn., would be his next stop to pursue his desire to become a successful country music artist and carry on in the footsteps of those he had grown up listening to and admiring. Adam has toured the United States, opening for legendary artists such as Lee Brice, Jamey Johnson, Jerrod Niemann, American Young, Midland, Trace Adkins, Neil McCoy, Rhonda Vincent and Darrell Singletary.

Golden West – Golden West hails from the west coast, but they’ve been planting roots in Nashville for several years. This dynamic duo is the party rock you’ve been waiting for. They’ve been aligned with Dan & Shay, Thomas Rhett, Jake Owen, Lee Brice, Chris Janson, and so many more. Having just been a headliner at Bonnaroo’s up & coming stage, they are a force to be reckoned with in 2020. Good vibes and Great times with Golden West!

Yankton – With a blend of country, gospel, and rock backgrounds and influenced by artists ranging from Merle Haggard to Motley Crüe, and having worked with artists and bands from Rascal Flatts to Alabama, these three musicians/songwriters/entertainers bring it all to the table for some eclectic original country music along with an epically entertaining stage show. Yankton has also recently been featured on Spotify’s ‘Country Rocks’ playlist with the band’s music logging over 1 MILLION streams on the platform with more new music on the way!

2020 St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Marathon & ½ Marathon Event Week

For over 20 years, St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Marathon & ½ Marathon has long been a favorite stop on the best-in-class running series, welcoming global visitors amidst a strong hometown contingent who know how to show a good time. Participants will experience everything the Music City has to offer with a vibrant course jam-packed with spectator support that takes runners through Nashville’s most famous locations including Broadway, Music Row, The Gulch and much more.

The 2020 St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Marathon & ½ Marathon kicks off with a free and open-to-the-public Health & Fitness Expo at the Nashville Music City Center Thursday, April 23, and Friday, April 24. All race participants will visit the expo where they will pick up their race packets and be able to shop the latest and greatest in running and nutrition trends.

Kicking off the running events will be the one-mile race that moves to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 23, at Nissan Stadium. Participants that take on this event plus any other distance over the course of the weekend will earn a third bonus medal for taking on the Remix Challenge^TM.

On Saturday, April 25, runners will take to the Nashville streets with the 6.15 mile and 5K presented by Brooks at 6:45 a.m., followed by the marathon and half marathon at 7:15 a.m. The race will culminate with the post-race concert outside Nissan Stadium headlined by Michael Ray and Carly Pearce.

The weekend events conclude the afternoon of Sunday, April 26, when the dogs and their owners take to the course in the half-mile Doggie Dash at Nissan Stadium. Finally, more than 2,500 junior racers in grades K-7 will have their chance to complete the final mile of their modified marathon challenge during the KiDS ROCK™ Nashville.

To register or learn more information on the St Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Marathon & ½ Marathon, visit www.runrocknroll.com/Nashville. For more information on the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series, please visit www.RunRocknRoll.com. Media may contact press@runrocknroll.com.

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About PNC Bank

PNC Bank, National Association, is a member of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC). PNC is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States, organized around its customers and communities for strong relationships and local delivery of retail and business banking including a full range of lending products; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. For information about PNC, visit www.pnc.com.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Its purpose is clear: Finding cures. Saving children.^®It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to more than 80 percent since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude won’t stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude freely shares the discoveries it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org, sharing stories and videos from St. Jude Inspire, liking St. Jude on Facebook, following St. Jude on Twitter and Instagram and subscribing to its YouTube channel.

About the St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Marathon & ½ Marathon

The St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Marathon & ½ Marathon will celebrate over20 years of running in the Music City on April 25-26, 2020. Featuring many of Nashville’s best live bands on stages along the course, the musically themed road race annually attracts approximately 30,000 runners. Saturday’s marathon, half marathon and 5K conclude with a finish line festival outside of Nissan Stadium. Race week kicks off with the two-day Health & Fitness Expo Thursday, April 23 and Friday, April 24 at Music City Center.  The 1-Mile takes place Thursday, April 23 while the Doggie Dash and KiDS ROCK Nashville takes place Sunday, April 26 at Nissan Stadium. For more information, please visit RunRocknRoll.com/Nashville or follow @RunRocknRoll on Twitter with hashtag #RNRNASHVILLE.

About Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series^®is the world’s largest running series taking part in over 30 destination events around the world every year. Established in 1998, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series simple idea of making running fun has transformed both the U.S. and global running landscape by infusing the course with live bands, cheer teams and entertaining water stations, creating a block-party atmosphere for participants and spectators alike. Focused on running, music and community, race weekend kicks off with a free Health & Fitness Expo showcasing the latest in running gear, sports apparel, health and nutritional information and much more. Events culminate with an entertaining finish-line festival featuring some of the biggest names in music, with past performances including Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, O.A.R. Aloe Blacc, Pitbull, Flo Rida, The Band Perry, Fitz and the Tantrums, the Goo Goo Dolls and Bret Michaels. Further information about the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series can be found online at www.RunRocknRoll.com and follow @RunRocknRoll on all social platforms.

About The IRONMAN Group

As part of Wanda Sports Group, The IRONMAN Group operates a global portfolio of events that includes the IRONMAN^® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN^®70.3^® Triathlon Series, 5150™ Triathlon Series, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series^®, IRONKIDS^®, ITU World Triathlon Series, premier running events including the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon™ and The Sun-Herald City2Surf^® presented by Westpac, Ultra-Trail^® World Tour events including Tarawera Ultra and Ultra-Trail Australia™, mountain bike races including the Absa Cape Epic^®, road cycling events, and other multisport races. The IRONMAN Group is the largest operator of mass participation sports in the world and provides more than a million participants annually the benefits of endurance sports through the company’s vast offerings. Since the inception of the iconic IRONMAN^® brand and its first event in 1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE^® by crossing finish lines around the world. Beginning as a single race, The IRONMAN Group has grown to become a global sensation with more than 235 events across 55+ countries. For more information, visit www.ironman.com.

About Wanda Sports Group

Wanda Sports Group (Nasdaq: WSG) is a leading global sports events, media and marketing platform with a mission to unite people in sports and enable athletes and fans to live their passions and dreams. Through our businesses, including Infront and The IRONMAN Group, we have significant intellectual property rights, long-term relationships and broad execution capabilities, enabling us to deliver unrivalled sports event experiences, creating access to engaging content and building inclusive communities. We offer a comprehensive array of events, marketing and media services through three primary segments: Mass Participation, Spectator Sports and Digital, Production, Sports Solutions (DPSS). Our full-service platform creates value for our partners and clients as well as other stakeholders in the sports ecosystem, from rights owners, to brands and advertisers, and to fans and athletes. Headquartered in Beijing, China, Wanda Sports Group has more than 60 offices and 1,600 employees around the world.

SJRnR Nashville Media Contacts:

Kim Dettwiller, SJRnR Nashville, (615) 330-5656, teamstrategies@gmail.com
Colby Gorniewicz, Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series, (704) 912-7534, colby.gorniewicz@ironman.com
Sarah Burgess, St. Jude, (901) 481-5935, Sarah.Burgess@stjude.org

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